Community Parabolic Trough

Cooks 4 pots at a time. Boils 1 liter in 10–15 minutes.

Built for households, small farms, and community programs.

The Problem with Box Cookers

Box cookers work. But they are slow.

2–4 hours to cook a meal
One pot at a time
No frying
Bulky and heavy
Output drops in wind and cold

For a household that cooks once a day, a box cooker is enough.

For a small farm, a school kitchen, or a community program, it is not.

The Problem with Parabolic Dishes

Parabolic dishes are faster. But they are hard to manage.

One pot at a time
Must be adjusted every 15 minutes
Fragile — aluminum foil degrades
Hard to ship
Hard to repair locally

Fast, but not practical for daily use.

The Community Parabolic Trough

Faster than a box. Simpler than a dish.

A parabolic trough concentrates sunlight onto a focal line. Pots sit in a row along that line. The concentrated sunlight heats the pots directly.

Cooks 4 pots at a time.

No fuel.
No electricity.
No constant tracking.

What It Does

Cooks 4 pots at a time
Boils 1 liter in 10–15 minutes
Reaches 150–250°C at the focal line
Produces 12 kWh per day
Heats 174 liters to 80°C per day
Boils 131 liters per day

Seasonal tilt only. Adjust four times per year. No daily tracking.

What It Cooks

Rice, beans, vegetables, stew
Bread, cake
Boiled water for safe drinking
Steam, bake, roast

Note: Frying is not recommended. Solar heat is variable, and frying requires constant, high heat.

The Dimensions

Aperture: 2.2 m tip-to-tip
Length: 1.5 m
Aperture area: 3.3 m²
Focal length: 0.5 m
Weight: 11–13 kg
Pots:4 in a row

What Is Included

Parabolic trough reflector
Curved ribs
Frame
Receiver tube with flat glass cover
Insulated cavity
Removable pot frame
Assembly instructions

Reflector Options

MIRO-SUN aluminum

Reflectance: 90%
Lifespan: 10+ years with warranty
Best for: NGOs, governments, development programs

Mylar film

Reflectance: 85–90%
Lifespan: 1–3 years
Best for: households, small farms, self-funded buyers
Replacement Mylar kits sold separately

Why the Trough

A box cooker holds one pot. A parabolic dish holds one pot. The Community Trough holds 4 pots in a row.
A box cooker takes 2–4 hours. A parabolic dish takes 10–15 minutes but needs constant tracking. The Community Trough takes 10–15 minutes with seasonal tilt only.
A box cooker lasts 2–5 years. A parabolic dish lasts 1–3 years. The Community Trough lasts 10–20 years.
A box cooker is easy to ship. A parabolic dish is fragile. The Community Trough is flat-packed and ships in a container.

Starting Price

Community Parabolic Trough — Standard

Cooks 4 pots at a time
MIRO-SUN reflector, 0.5 mm
Steel frame
Flat glass cover
Insulated cavity
Removable pot frame
Starting price: €750

Community Parabolic Trough — Basic

Cooks 4 pots at a time
Mylar reflector
Wood frame
Flat glass cover
Removable pot frame
Starting price: €450

Modular — Add Units as You Grow

One unit: 4 pots
Two units: 8 pots
Three units: 12 pots
Four units: 16 pots

Start with one. Add as you grow.

Prices depend on configuration, material prices, and installation.

Shipping, installation, and training are quoted separately.

Prices may change at any time without notice.

Modular — Add Units as You Grow

Each unit holds 4 pots.

One unit: 4 pots — household, small eatery
Two units: 8 pots — larger school, community kitchen
Three units: 12 pots — large school, small restaurant
Four units: 16 pots — community kitchen, small institution

Start with one. Add as you grow.

Same design. Same parts. Same training. Just more units.

Who It Is For

Households
Small farms
Schools
Clinics
Community kitchens
Small eateries
Coastal villages
NGOs and mission programs

Who It Is Not For

Frying
Industrial process heat
Electricity generation

Community and Mission Programs

We work with NGOs, churches, and non-profit organizations to bring clean cooking to communities in need.

We offer:

Discounted pricing for verified non-profits
Training for local assembly and maintenance
Support for local manufacturing where possible
Pilot project partnerships

Technical Summary

Aperture: 2.2 m tip-to-tip
Length: 1.5 m
Aperture area: 3.3 m²
Focal length: 0.5 m
Curve depth at edge: 60.5 cm
Reflector: MIRO-SUN 0.5 mm, or Mylar
Receiver: Black copper tube, 15–22 mm
Glass cover: Flat tempered glass, 3–4 mm
Insulation: Rock wool or ceramic fiber, 30–50 mm
Tracking: Seasonal tilt, 4 times per year
Temperature: 150–250°C at the focal line
Pots:4 in a row
Lifespan: 10–20 years (MIRO-SUN), 1–3 years (Mylar)
Weight: 11–13 kg
Assembly: Under 6 hours, crew of four
Container: 150–180 units per 20 ft container

Note: Performance depends on sunlight, water source, and installation.

Ready to discuss your project?

Request a Quote | Contact Us

Contact Details

VenParabolic

✉️ info@venparabolic.com
🌐venparabolic.com
📍 The Netherlands